A radiator cabinet adds a lot of utility to a cast iron radiator. Ordinary radiators serve as mere heating units. While they do a great job of this, their functionality stops there. Radiator cabinets provide a solid foundation over the radiator where objects can be placed without cause for concern. In essence, it reclaims the unusable space above a radiator. Unlike radiator covers, cabinets often include extra space in an interior which can open up to multiple shelves.

Another reason why you need to get a radiator cabinet is that it significantly improves the look of any room it is placed in. The fact of the matter is that cast iron radiators can look distracting or distasteful as they age, especially if they haven’t been taken care of well. Radiator cabinets hide this eyesore, replacing it with an aesthetically pleasing unit. Many of the best radiator cabinets are made of fine wood. Others have clever facades which provide the illusion of bookshelves or fireplaces. Your choice should ultimately reflect your own personal tastes and the other furniture in the room.

In addition to the extra utility and exceptional looks, radiator cabinets are also important because of their safety benefits. A bare cast iron radiator can be a significant hazard, especially to flammable substances or small children. A radiator cabinet serves as a barrier between the fragile people and items you care about and the hot iron coils of the radiator. Pretty much every radiator should have a radiator cabinet if only for the safety benefits.

A radiator cabinet is an excellent investment for any home because of the many benefits it provides. For safety, an improved aesthetic, and added utility, you receive excellent value in a radiator cabinet.

Bathroom Towel Radiators

By and large the majority of bathroom radiators have been designed with towels in mind. Whether for bath towels or hand towels, these units ensure that you never have to dry yourself off with something chilly. Most bathroom towel radiators are electrically heated, meaning that all you need to do is mount them to the wall and plug them in - no plumbing involved whatsoever. Bathroom towel radiators provide you with the luxury of always having a warm and comfortable towel at hand when you exit the shower or finish washing up. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being wrapped in a warm, fluffy towel, right?

Designer Bathroom Radiators

Designer models are for those people who are looking to add to the appearance of their bathroom in addition to the functionality. A designer bathroom radiator can really enhance the look and feel of a room, especially if they have been well chosen to match the other pieces in the room. With a designer bathroom radiator, you don’t have to choose between art and comfort - you’ll have the luxury of enjoying both at the same time.

Low Costs, Large Benefits

A bathroom radiator is a great way to increase your everyday comfort. You are sure to notice the difference every single time that you use the bathroom. Extra warmth tends to go along with extra joy, especially in terms of towels. These units are inexpensive to purchase, inexpensive to install, and inexpensive to maintain. They tend to use little power, and you can always turn them off when not in use. For such a low cost you’ll get tremendous value out of your bathroom radiator.

Improved Efficiency
One of the great things about electric radiators is that they aren’t wasteful in terms of energy use. An electric radiator tends to use all of the electricity it takes, converting it into heat which warms the space it’s in. With less energy wasted, your utility bills are sure to be lowered. Electric radiators don’t have issues related to inherent energy inefficiencies that other kinds of radiators have. The more modern the radiator, the more efficient it tends to be.

Control and Individualization
Unlike cast iron radiators, which tend to be placed along walls due to their bulky nature, electric radiators can be placed in many different kinds of configurations. This allows you to personalize how you use it and where you want to set them up. There are even designer electric radiators which seem to the casual observer to be art pieces. Many electric radiators are actually designed with specific placements in mind, such as electric bathroom radiators or the electric towel radiator. In addition to placement, you also can control each electric radiator individually. This means that you can control which rooms have the heat turned on and which don’t. Added control gives you the opportunity to ensure that the only spaces drawing power are those that need it. You can create the warmth distribution within your home that you desire without too much effort. Because you don’t have to have the heat on where you don’t need it, your use of energy is lowered even further.

Installation and Maintenance Costs
Unlike radiators which rely on plumbing and boilers, in the majority of cases, electric radiators only need to be plugged in. This means that installation of an electric radiator is much lower than you might expect. Stand along electric radiators have no installation costs whatsoever. Maintenance is also lower because of a lack of plumbing. This makes upkeep of your heating system much easier in terms of time, effort, and costs.

The Benefits of Electric Radiators
Electric radiators definitely have their advantages. While they don’t put out as much heat per unit as other kinds of radiators, they require less energy and have less costs associated with them. Before you look into installing expensive radiator systems, make sure to check into electric radiators.

Painting Your Radiator

Painting a cast iron radiator is a little more involved than you might think, but it has definite benefits. Covering the radiator with metallic based paints will reduce the heat output by up to 20 percent, which is a significant reduction. This is definitely something to consider if your unit is putting out too much heat. You’ll need to make the choice to either cover up what’s already there or strip the old paint first. Once you’ve decided, make sure you clean the surface before you begin painting. Covering the entire surface of the radiator with a zinc or zinc chromate primer is key to making sure your paint job will last a long time. Use oil based paint for your radiator. Brush it on gently, making sure to get all of the angles. Make sure the paint dries completely before you run the radiator. Then open all the windows and let it run for awhile to get that new paint smell out.

Creating Radiator Covers

A radiator cover can greatly add to the look and efficiency of your cast iron radiator. The best benefit, though, is the huge increase in radiator safety. This should be a critical component of your refurbishing plans if safety is a concern for you. It’s definitely recommended, especially if you have small children or pets. The process for making a radiator cover isn’t too hard, but it has way too many steps to be covered here. The pros down at This Old House made a great tutorial here, which I’d recommend if you’re interested.

Enclosures

Enclosures are another way to improve the look of your radiator. This doesn’t involve the radiator itself, but rather the space around the radiator. Radiator enclosures will work to reduce the heat output into the room by the radiator, so its another solution if your rooms are getting too hot. The classic style enclose seen in many older homes has a metal perforated front and a solid top. This reduces the heat output by as much as 30%. Enclosures are similar to radiator covers, but note that they do not necessarily encompass the entire radiator.

Conversions

Converting a steam radiator to a hot water radiator is a long term project that you should consider consulting a professional for. This can involve working with your boiler, and that’s enough right there to make me nervous. Work with the pros for conversions to avoid unnecessary damage to your cast iron radiator and your home.

Advantages Over Forced Air Systems

Modern radiator systems hold huge advantages over forced air systems which knowledgable engineers and architects use when designing homes and heating systems. For one thing, you never need to worry about getting hot spots or cold spots due to wierd air flows inside your home. The heat provided by the radiator flows outwards in a controlled space and does not rely on these currents. In addition, you’ll never get that drafty feeling you often get in forced air heated homes. The lack of a draft is also a strong advantage when it comes to odors, pollon, smoke, or any other particulates within the house. Because there’s less drafts, there’s less movement of these undesirables around your home.

The Benefits of Zoning

With modern systems you could set up zoning in your home. This means that each radiator can be controlled seperately, or several could be chained together (not literally) to form a ‘zone.’ A single thermostat could control the entire zone. By controlling the heat in each room or floor of your home seperately, you could tailor the heating of specific rooms at specific times to your specific needs. There’s no need to heat the downstairs if you’re upstairs in bed reading a book, for instance. Similarly, why waste energy heating the bedrooms when everyone’s downstairs for dinner? Zone control lets you save on energy costs which means a little more green in your pocket at the end of the day.

Modern Systems with Vintage Radiators?

So is it possible to set up a modern system but with vintage style radiators? Absolutely, although you’ll likely need the help of your local professional. Many people love the advantages of modern systems, but are also attracted to the ornate metal work of Victorian style radiators. So why not go with the best of both worlds? There are companies that refurbish vintage cast iron radiators to make them as good as any modernly manufactured unit. After you have the units, setting up the zones and reaping the benefits takes no more than a simple phone call to your local pro.

Radiator Covers

The best, most efficient way to increase the safety of your radiator is to apply a radiator cover. These are specially crafted units which go over your radiator, keeping the hot metal away from inquisitive fingers. These can be made to look like metal enclosures or wooden bookshelves, or anything in between. Many professionally built ones are for sale, or you could always attempt to build one yourself. Radiator covers also have the benefit of directing heated air in particular directions. This could increase the efficiency of your radiator and lower your heating bills. For safety and practicality a radiator cover is best, and the choice I would always try first when keeping safety in mind.

Safety Gates

If you can’t protect or cover the radiator directly, then the next best option is to keep people and animals away from the radiator. Try setting up some sort of barricade, such as a child safety gate, around the radiator area. Make sure that the gate is sturdy enough to not fall over - you definitely do not want it leaning against the radiator as that could start a fire. You may want to consider reinforcing the supports of your barricade to make sure that this doesn’t happen.

Cloth Covers

If all else fails you may want to consider covering the radiator with heavy cloth. There are specially made pads for this in Europe called Rad Pads, but they could be expensive. The heavy cloth will provide some barrier between the hot metal and your child. If you use the wrong kind of cloth you’re running the risk of having it dry out and light on fire, so be extremely careful. I would recommend consulting a local professional before putting anything flammable on top of a radiator.

Safety First

Safety is of paramount importance, and all the more so with a cast iron radiator. Take the necessary precautions and you can enjoy all the benefits of these units without any of the worry.

Steam Radiators

Steam radiators were the first ever free standing radiators, and were developed by Joseph Nason in the 1860’s. This system had a single pipe that went from the elaborately designed radiator to a boiler elsewhere in the home. The boiler would heat up water into steam, which would flow through the pipe and into the radiator. The heat would get transferred to the radiator, meaning that the steam would cool down, turn back into water, and drain through the pipe back to the boiler. If your radiator at home has a single pipeline, it’s a steam radiator.

Hot Water Radiators

Hot water radiators use two pipes. One takes water from the boiler and into the radiator, and the other returns the cooled water back to the boiler. The great thing about these two pipe setups is that they could potentially be used with steam boilers as well as hot water boilers, making them desirable and versatile. Hot water radiators weren’t seen until the twentieth century, but have been around ever since. It’s important to make sure that you bleed this kind of radiator on a yearly basis to ensure that trapped air isn’t impeding the flow of water.

Vintage Cast Iron Radiators

Older cast iron radiators weren’t just created for the practical purpose of heating a home. They were also used as ornate metal decorations. The idea was that if you needed a large clunky piece of iron in a room, there was no reason for it to look bad, too. Vintage radiators and vintage clones can still be found for sale today. Some styles you may run into include Italianate and Victorian. The first generally includes rounded fins and curved feet, where as the second generally has raised ornate patterns. For pure asthetics, the Victorian radiators have generally been held in higher esteem, and have often been used for purely decorative purposes.

Modern Cast Iron Radiators

Believe it or not companies are still making cast iron radiators even today. The modern style is a minimalist one, with sleek curved coils and columns. Modern radiators are not necessarily better than their vintage counterparts for heating your home, but they are more likely to have had higher standards of quality when they were produced.

Bleeding the Radiator

This may sound like bad medicine, but it actually is a good term when applied to radiators. Bleeding the radiator is something you should try if you find that the radiator is colder than it should be, or that the room isn’t heating properly. What’s going on here is that air is getting caught in the coils and impeding the flow of water that your radiators depend on for even heating. Bleeding the radiator is as simple as opening the valve towards the top of the radiator. Wait until the hissing sound stops before closing the vent again. In addition, you may want to have some kind of washcloth on hand - often times some water will get shot out of the valve when you open it.

A Leaky Radiator

If your radiator is leaking, odds are that you can fix it yourself and save yourself a hefty plumbers fee. It’s a little involved, though, so make sure you’re in it for the long haul. First you’ll need to drain the radiator of any water or steam that’s inside. Next strip the surface of all the paint, primer, and dust which have settled there. Remove any grease or oil on the surface by using a non-petroleum cleaner. You’re then going to need to apply a special product used for sealing. J-B Weld has been noted as being good for this. Use a 50-50 proportioned solution and spread it over the entire radiator, making sure that your layer isn’t too think in any one place. About 1/32 inch thick should do the trick nicely. Make sure you’re really careful with the solution - it can do a lot of damage if it gets in your eyes or onto your skin, so wear gloves and goggles. Then all you’ll need to do is let it dry. About 15-20 hours generally does the trick. While the process is involved and lengthy, it’ll save you a couple of bucks in the long run.

Problems With the Circulator

The circulator is what pumps the hot water to all the radiators in your house. I wouldn’t touch the thing with a ten foot pole, personally. If you’re having trouble with your circulator, call in the pros and let them get to work. This is one thing you don’t want to touch without some kind of expertise.

Cast Iron - the Ideal Metal for Heating Your Home

The scientific reason why cast iron is used for radiators is that it has a high specific heat capacity. In everyday terms, this means that it takes a lot of energy to increase the temperature of the material. Why is this a good thing? Well, the harder it is to increase the temperature, the more energy the material stores per degree. So once you get it hot, there’s a huge amount of energy stored. This makes it easy to heat things that don’t require much energy to increase in temperature, like air. The specific heat capacity is also why cast iron is a common choice in other fields where it’s used to heat other things, like in cooking.

The Anatomy of the Radiator

A radiator is made of a few key parts. First you’ll see a few pipes that lead in to your unit. There’s typically only one or two. A valve will be attached to one of them. The radiator itself will have many sections and a few columns. The sections are the number of coils present, and the columns are how many repetitions of these sections go back. And that’s all there really is to a cast iron radiator, fundamentally.

Why So Many Coils and Tubes?

The trick to this one is knowing how radiators work in principle. Heat is coming off of the surface of the hot iron and flowing into your room. The transfer of heat to the air only occurs at the surface of the radiator. So manufacturer’s put in all sorts of coils and fins and loops in order to increase the surface area, thus making the heat flow from the radiator into the room much faster and more efficiently.

Radiator Size

The size of your radiator basically determines how much heat it generates. This relates back to the coils and tubes question. Basically larger radiator equals more surface which means faster heating.

The Purpose of Paint

Painting a radiator isn’t just about the asthetic of your room. It also plays a key role in determining heat output. Since the 1930’s, people have been painting their radiators in order to reduce the amount of heat it puts out. So if you’re radiator is too large, and your house is getting too hot, the cheapest solution is likely good ole fahsioned paint.

Fundamentals

That’s basically the entire fundamentals of cast iron radiators. Remember to be safe - if you’re unsure of how something works, it’s always better to ask questions than t potentially injure yourself.